Rocking frame for tanning-vats



(No Model.)

J. HOUSE.

ROGKING FRAME FOR TANNING'VATS. v No; 536,144. Patented Man 19, 1895..

1 i i la i gain if f. W I

. UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOUSE, OF PRINCESS ANNE, MARYLAND, AssIeNoR OF 'lWO-THIRDS TO WILLIAM LOCKWOOD AND HARRY M. P. cLARK, OF DAVIS, WEST VIRGINIA.

ROCKING FRAME FOR TANNING-VATS.

' SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 536,144, dated March 19, 1895.

Application filed November 17, 1894:. Serial No- 529,1 68- (No model.)

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Princess Anne,

in the county of Somerset and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rocking Frames for Tan- ,ning-Vats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others 10 skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My said invention consists in an improved constructionof rocker frames fort-anningvats, by the use of which the hidescan be placed thereon very conveniently and held in place very securely, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar letters'of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a vat provided with my said invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinalsection looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line oc.'r in Fig. 1, andFig. 3, a detail view looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows from the dotted line yy in Fig. 2.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the vat, B the rocker frame, and O 0 combined holding and tightening devices to which the hides are attached.

The vat, A, is or may be ofany suitable or desired construction, bracket bearings, a, being provided centrally of its sides upon which 3 5 the frame, B, rests and rocks. I

The frame,B, is formed of wide side pieces having centrallylocated notches in their lower edges which engage the bearings, a, and support the frame, and two end bars at each end,

40 one, I), at the upper and one, 19', at the lower corner, thus leavingopen ends for a purpose which will be hereinafter specified. A connecting rod, B, runs from one end of the frame to a suitably located crank shaft, or other 5 mechanism,by which the frame is rocked upon its bearings. I

The holding devices,

0, eons'istof a crossbar mounted at each end of the frame upon swinging arms, 0, which are hinged or pivoted to the side pieces of the frame, B, at suitable points from the ends, said side pieces being cut away at their lower corners to allow ways within whichsaid arms may move without projecting beyond their inner faces. At the right in Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a roller, C, mounted in suitable bearings on the bar, 0, and armed with prongs or hooks, c,which catch the ends of the hides. At the opposite end I have shown the roller omitted and said prongs or hooks provided on the bar itself. Either form may be used, as will be readily seen, without departing from my invention. When the roller, 0, is used, a lever, C is provided by which it may be rolled or rocked in its bearings, a pin, 0 inserted in a suitably located perforation in the adjacent side of the frame, B, serving to secure it in the proper adjustment. The bars, 0, may be raised and lowered by a variety of well known mechanical expedients. and in Fig. 3 a very simple means is shown, consisting of an angle lever, 0 pivoted at its angle to a suitable part of the frame, and its short end connected by a link, 0 to the center of said bar, 0. The lowered position is shown in whole lines in Fig. 3, and the'raised position in dotted lines. When raised, it may be held by a pin, 0 inserted in a suitably located perforation in the standard, B to which it is shown as pivoted. At the opposite end in Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a rock-shaft, C journaled on the frame above the bar, 0, provided with arms, 0 which extend inwardly and are connected at their ends by means of links, 0 to the arms, 0. A lever, 0 is provid'ed for, rocking said shaft which operates to raise and lower thebars, O, as will be readily understood.

In operation the bars, C, bearing the roller, 0', 6r not, as preferred, are lifted to the po- 0 sition shown in dotted lines, which brings them above the points where the arms, a, are hinged and" thus nearer to each other. The hide is then caught over the books or prongs and the bars, 0, then forced down, which 5 operates to draw the hide taut and hold it securely in place, and keeps it from sagging and thus rubbing against adjacent hides. When the roller is used it is turned to bring the; hooks or prongs in a vertical position, ICO

At the right in Figs. land 2 70 i and after the hide is in place and the barloweredthe roller is turnedeuough to tighten the hide still further and bring the hooks to an angle, which will still further secure against the possibility of its being forced oit by the action against the liquor. This is important, inasmuch as the hide, being in horizontal position and rockedup and down, meets considerable resistance when being forced down into the liquor, and would be forced oit the attaching devices it not thus firmly secured. By having the ends of the frame, B, open, the ends of the hide are permitted to float freely out into the liquor and receive the full action of the operation.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a The combination in a tanning vat of a rocking frame mounted horizontally therein near 20 the top thereof, said frame being formed With open ends forthe purpose specified, devices for attaching the hides to said frame consisting of horizontal bars provided with projecting prongs, said bars being mounted on swingingarms, which arms are hinged to the side 

